Evaluation of Mitochondria Content and Function in Live Cells by Multicolor Flow Cytometric Analysis

Hsiu Han Fan, Tsung Lin Tsai, Ivan L. Dzhagalov, Chia Lin Hsu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate how a cell responds to the external stimuli, treatment, or alteration of the microenvironment, the quantity and quality of mitochondria are commonly used as readouts. However, it is challenging to apply mitochondrial analysis to the samples that are composed of mixed cell populations originating from tissues or when multiple cell populations are of interest, using methods such as Western blot, electron microscopy, or extracellular flux analysis. Flow cytometry is a technique allowing the detection of individual cell status and its identity simultaneously when used in combination with surface markers. Here we describe how to combine mitochondria-specific dyes or the dyes targeting the superoxide produced by mitochondria with surface marker staining to measure the mitochondrial content and activity in live cells by flow cytometry. This method can be applied to all types of cells in suspension and is particularly useful for analysis of samples composed of heterogeneous cell populations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMethods in Molecular Biology
PublisherHumana Press Inc.
Pages203-213
Number of pages11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Publication series

NameMethods in Molecular Biology
Volume2276
ISSN (Print)1064-3745
ISSN (Electronic)1940-6029

Keywords

  • FACS
  • Flow cytometry
  • Mitochondria
  • Quantification
  • Reactive oxygen species

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